大学英语语法7——介词短语.ppt

College English Grammar: Grammar and Writing By Zhu Xiangjun Unit 7 Phrases: Prepositional phrase Grammar: Prepositional phrase Writing: Correcting: Unnecessary shifts Rewriting: How to use the passive voice Prepositional phrase A phrase may be defined as a group of related words without a subject and a verb. A phrase functions within a sentence as a single part of speech - noun, adjective, or adverb. The most common phrases are prepositional phrases, participial phrases, gerund phrases and infinitive phrases. Prepositional phrase Prepositional phrases modify nouns and verbs, indicating various relationships between subjects and verbs. Often in English, writers employ prepositional phrases excessively to create an almost comical effect. “Coming!“ Away she skimmed over the lawn, up the path, up the steps, across the veranda, and into the porch. 1. Form A prepositional phrase=a preposition+(adjectives)+a noun/pronoun My older daughter graduated from school. She then took a job. My older daughter took a job after school. When I studied, I had many questions about my selective courses. I often consulted the adviser. During my study period, I often consulted the adviser about my selective courses. 2. Functions Prepositional phrases have three formal functions in sentences. They can act as an adjective modifying a noun, as an adverb modifying a verb, or as a nominal when used in conjunction with the verb form to be. 2.1. As an adjective When a prepositional phrase is used as an adjective, it modifies a noun or a pronoun, answers the question “which one?” and always follows the word it modifies. People lives in the city People are accustomed to the traffic jams. People in the city are accustomed to the traffic jams. Please hand me the pen. The pen is behind the keyboard. Please hand me the pen behind the keyboard. 2.2. As an adverb When a prepositional phrase is used as an adverb, it modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, answers the questions “how?”, “when?”, “where?” and may appear in different positions in a sentence. The queen greeted the crowd. She smiled graciously. The queen greeted the crowd with a gracious smile. It was at midnight. Children got a surprise. They all woke up. At midnight, children all woke up with a surprise. (Generally, when a prepositional phrase begins a sentence, it modifies the verb.) 2.3. As a noun When used in conjunction with the verb form to be, the prepositional phrase functions as a noun and acts as a predictive to express the existence or state of being of the subject. Our products are good. Their quality is prime. Our products are of prime quality. It was out of my expectation. A beautiful girl greeted me. The girl came from Japan. Out of my expectation, the beautiful girl greeting me was from Japan. Some words may be used as either prepositions or adverbs. If a word has a noun or a pronoun as its object, then the word is a preposition. If a word does not have an object, the word is an adverb. Above the surface of the water, the towers rise to a height of nearly 700 feet. (as preposition) I heard a strange sound coming from the room above. (as adverb) He has built a wooden bridge over a pool. (as preposition) He was so drunk that he fell over in the road. (as adverb) 3. Position In general, a prepositional phrase often appears after the word it modifies: People in towns purchase their necessities from the shops. A famous actor in a play was once cast in the role of a demon. However, like adverbs, prepositional phrases that modify verbs can also be found at the very beginning or very end of a sentence: In the letter he was asked to call at the station. On arriving at the shore, the girl struggled up the cliff towards the light. 4. Punctuation If a prepositional phrase begins a sentence, there is usually a comma after it. But, if the prepositional phrase is short, the comma is less necessary but still an option. At night (,) they lied down on the moss to sleep. In the light of this statement, teachers live by selling knowledge. If prepositional phrases come between the subject and predicate, the comma is often used. Firemen, at last, have put out a big forest fire in California. A drunk, during a bullfight, wandered into the middle of the ring suddenly. If a prepositional phrase is a part of the main clause or it ends a sentence, there is no comma. For example: Big Ben takes its name from Sir Benjamin. An ancient bus stopped by a dry river bed. Exercises: Combine the sentences in each set into a single clear sentence containing at least one prepositional phrase. He was still mumbling something. These things were about hospitals. He was mumbling at the end of the party. He was still mumbling something about hospitals at the end of the party. She must appear in the play. She must wear a dress. She must wear stockings. The dress is red. The stockings are long. In the play, she must appear in a bright red dress and long black stockings I was despaired. I asked her a question. The question was whether she was enjoying her dinner. In despair, I asked her whether she was enjoying her dinner. He was in hospital. He would have to stay there. He would have to spend another two weeks. He would have to stay in hospital for another two weeks. We are now living in a house. The house is beautiful. The house is new. The house is in the country. We are now living in a beautiful new house in the country. They had got away. They had taken diamonds. The diamonds are worth of thousands of pounds. They had got away with thousands of pounds worth of diamonds. Unnecessary shifts Keep sentences smooth, clear, and consistent. Avoid sudden, aimless shifts of the following. 1. Shifts in subject The subject of a sentence is the person, thing, place, or idea that is doing or being something. It is what/whom a sentence is about. That is, subject is the focus of a sentence and the real interest of the writer. Be consistent in your choice of subject. First the dirty water must be drained out, and then you should clean the pipe. First you must drain the dirty water out, and then clean the pipe. 2. Shift in person Person determines if someone is speaking (first person - I or we), being spoken to (second person - you), or being spoken about (third person - he/she, it or they)in a sentence. Shift in person is improperly mixing first, second, or third person within a sentence. When we looked down, you could see the little farms growing smaller and smaller. When we looked down, we could see the little farms growing smaller and smaller. When you looked down, you could see the little farms growing smaller and smaller. 3. Shift in tense “Tense“ refers to the form of a verb that indicates time. Be consistent in your choice of tense. After I left a small village in the south of France, I will drive on to the next town. After I left a small village in the south of France, I drove on to the next town. 4. Shift in mood Mood is a set of verb forms or inflections that conveys the writers attitude toward a subject. There are three major moods in English: (1) the indicative mood, used to make factual statements; (2) the imperative mood, used to express a command; (3) the subjunctive mood, used to indicate doubt or unlikelihood. First discuss the problem; then you should take action. First discuss the problem; then take action. You must discuss the problem first and then take action. Exercises: Correct the following needless shifts . Everyone enjoys jogging because you feel so good when you quit. I like going out with her because she really made you feel important. I used to think my parents were fussy, but as you grow older, you become more tolerant. People like living in Kunming because you have good weather all year long. He failed the job application, but it didnt break his heart. We tried to move around, but there is not too much we can do. Its wise for a beginning driver to stay out of heavy traffic until you have more experience. I crossed the street to avoid meeting him, but a lady came running towards me. Jenney liked fishing, but hunting was also enjoyed by him. Frogs could be heard croaking as we neared the swamp. Correcting 1. Everyone enjoys You enjoy 2. you me 3. you I; you I 4. you they 5. it the failure 6. but there is not too much we can do but we have not too much to do 7. you he or she 8. a lady came running towards me I saw a lady running towards me 9. hunting was also enjoyed by him he also enjoyed hunting 10.Frogs could be heard croaking We could hear frogs croaking The exercise in this section is to create effective passages by combining the short sentences which you think is related into longer, more complex ones. If there are some mistakes, correct them. Passage 1 (Adapted from Lesson 80, New Concept English II by L.G.Alexander) In 19th century, the most unusual building maybe the Crystal Palace. People bu